Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Petition Form

The Senate Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities will consider a petition if the petitioner has first used the Ombudsperson process. Only when matters cannot be resolved through that process, will the committee consider a case.

You MUST check YES in answer to the question below about contacting an ombudsperson to view and complete the form.

Have you contacted an ombudsperson about your situation?

YES

NO

Which Ombudsperson did you contact?

Ombudsperson Name

Petitions should be specific and should indicate what University channels were previously used for resolution of the problem. Petitioners must agree to be bound by the procedures described in AC76, the document defining the Senate Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities; violation of these procedures may be grounds for termination of the review of the petition. View Policy AC76 Faculty Rights and Responsibilities.

Notes from AC76

1. Scope of issues appropriate for review by the Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities:

A. In these procedures the term "faculty member" refers to members of the University faculty as defined in the University Faculty Senate Constitution (Article II, Section 1) plus any other University employees in academic positions which lead to permanent tenure.

B. The Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities established by these procedures may review petitions from faculty members and administrators involving:

1. Any situation in which a faculty member asserts that he or she has suffered a substantial injustice resulting from a violation of academic freedom, professional ethics or procedural fairness.

2. Any situation in which an administrator seeks a Committee judgment as to appropriate action toward a faculty member who, in the administrator's judgment, may be failing to meet his or her responsibilities.

C. The Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities will normally consider only petitions which involve, as a direct party, faculty members as defined above. Exceptions to this restriction apply to University academic employees (a University academic employee is a person whose duties include instructional, research or creative responsibilities) * as follows:

1. Dismissal. Any University academic employee may make use of these procedures upon receipt of notice of dismissal. A dismissal is a termination before the end of the period of appointment.

2. Nonreappointment. Any University academic employee who can demonstrate that considerations violative of academic freedom significantly contributed to a decision of nonreappointment may make use of these procedures.

3. Other matters. The Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities may, as it deems appropriate, review petitions of any University academic employee in matters beyond the above limitations, but formal hearings will not be held except in rare cases where there are compelling reasons for them.

D. Cases of substantive dispute involving the termination of tenured appointment for cause or for reasons of financial exigency or program elimination or revision, or the release of a faculty member during the provisional appointment period with less advance notice than specified in University policy, shall be considered at a hearing by the Standing Joint Committee on Tenure described in Section IV.10 of the University's Promotion and Tenure Procedures and Regulations -- AC23. (Also see Article III, Section 2 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.)

2. Issues for Review: Limitations

Section B under Scope defines the kinds of issues which the Committee may review. The Committee shall not consider the substantive academic judgment aspects of such matters as promotion, tenure, compensation, and evaluation of performance. In such matters as these, only procedural fairness may be reviewed. The Committee may not review petitions which are being or have been processed in the courts or through affirmative action.

Section C.3. under Scope describes other matters that may come under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities. These other matters shall not be defined so as to include cases which are being or have been processed in court or through affirmative action.

3. Conciliation: Colleges and campuses should have a person or group to serve in the role of "ombudsman". The objective would be to enhance communication and clarify possible misunderstandings in situations which involve potential disputes, to advise faculty members and administrators as to appropriate courses of action, and to help settle matters before they become hardened into serious disputes.

4. Upon receiving a petition, the Committee will make a preliminary determination as to the extent of its review of the matter. The Committee will reserve the right not to take up a complaint that it judges unsubstantial or without merit or where it appears that other remedies should be sought before coming to the Committee.
The preliminary determination referred to must include a Committee judgment that the appropriate department, college and/or other unit administrative procedures have been exhausted prior to the point the Committee decides whether or not to review the petition further. In making such a judgment, the Committee shall consult with the ombudsman in the appropriate college or campus.

*This definition excludes graduate assistants.

FACULTY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES PETITION FORM

Senate Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
University Faculty Senate Office
101 Kern Graduate Building
University Park, PA 16802

To the Chair of the Senate Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities:

Ombudsperson Email

Confirm Ombudsperson Email

Date

My name is:

My position is:

I am in the Department of:

You MUST check YES in answer to the question above about contacting an ombudsperson to view and complete the form.

Per AC76, "Disputes are best addressed through direct discussions among the parties to the disputes. When such direct discussions fail to resolve the dispute, the parties should avail themselves of the Ombudsperson process. All Penn State faculty and administrators are strongly urged to make use of the unit or University ombudsperson as appropriate. Only when matters cannot be resolved through that process, should the formal procedures described in this policy be used." Please contact your unit ombudsperson.
View Unit Ombudspersons

in this College/Campus:

My phone number is:

This form is secure. The only viewers of your entries are members of the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Committee and Erin Eckley, Administrative Support Assistant for the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Committee. Each time anyone enters or leaves the form, it automatically clears, so there's no way for anyone to see your entries.

Please read the instructions and reference text, then scroll down to begin form entries.

All petitions to the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Committee are submitted electronically using secure folders. Each petition must be submitted as one single PDF file.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Complete this Petition Form. Print it as a PDF file.
2. Combine this form (with form first) with your supporting documentation into one single PDF file.
3. Title your PDF file using the following format: your last name, first name, the word Petition, underscore, and the date (LastNameFirstNamePetition_mmddyy; Example: SmithAnnaPetition_051122)
4. Contact Erin Eckley, Administrative Assistant for the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Committee (ele2@psu.edu, 814-863-1204) to have a secure folder set up to which you can upload your petition.
5. Upload your petition as one single PDF file to the designated secure folder.
6. Notify Erin Eckley once you have completed the upload.

My email is:

Confirm My email is:

Are you a Tenure Track or Non-Tenure Track faculty member?

Tenure Track

Non-Tenure Track

JUMP TO FORM

My issue is related to:

Promotion & Tenure

OtherOther

Summarize your situation in the form briefly. A more detailed explanation may be included with your petition.

Please provide a synopsis or executive summary of your situation or problem below. (Approximately 500 words or less)

The Committee(s) and Administrator(s) that my complaint is against are:

Who were the relevant administrators (Department Head and Dean) in your area at the time of the problem (if applicable)?

Department Head Name

Department Head Email

Confirm Department Head Email

Dean Name

Dean Email

Confirm Dean Email

I assert this was a violation of (See Notes 1 and 2 above):

(Text boxes will open below to add information based on which checkbox you check.)

Academic Freedom

Professional Ethics

Procedural Fairness

Other

This was a violation of academic freedom for the following reasons:

For a violation of academic freedom, cite violations based on:
AC64 Academic Freedom
Other standards such as AACU Academic Freedom and Educational Responsibility.

Evidence and documentation I will provide proving that a violation of academic freedom occurred is:

This was a violation of professional ethics for the following reasons:

For a violation of professional ethics, cite violations based on
AC47 General Standards of Professional Ethics
Other professional standards such as the AACU Statement on Professional Ethics.

Evidence and documentation I will provide proving that a violation of professional ethics occurred is:

This was a violation of procedural fairness for the following reasons:

For a violation of procedural fairness, cite violations of fairness regarding the implementation of specific policy(ies)/procedure(s).
Examples: University, Department, or College Policies
AC17 Sabbatical Leave
AC21 Definition of Academic Ranks
AC23 Promotion and Tenure Procedures and Regulations
AC40 Annual Evaluations
AC47 General Standards of Professional Ethics
AC61 Faculty Contracts
AC64 Academic Freedom

Cite violations of fairness in the application of specific policy(ies)/procedure(s)

Evidence and documentation I will provide proving that a violation of procedural fairness occurred is:

For Other Violations, please state clearly

Evidence and documentation I will provide proving that other violations occurred is:

Summarize remedy sought in the form briefly. A more detailed explanation may be included with your petition.

The remedy I seek to this situation that is within the scope of authority of the Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Committee is:

By typing my name below, I hereby agree that it constitutes as my signature.

I Agree

My Signature

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